- Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
- Height 6 Feet
- Width 2.5 Feet
- Growing Zones 4-9
A particularly nice cultivar of a native North American grass, Prairie Winds Totem Pole Switch Grass makes a great addition to landscapes throughout most of the United States growing zones. Tall, upright columns of steel gray leaves erupt from the ground, occupying little space making it perfect for an upright feature in smaller gardens as well as for massing out in your landscape as a privacy screen or lovely border. These tough grasses will even control erosion on that hard to plant hillside with ease.
Native to North America and growing from Canada all the way down to Mexico, Switch Grass can grow in all but the most extreme hot and cold climates of the United States in Zones 4 to 9. Providing an interesting upright feature to your garden all summer long, it then bursts into golden seed heads in the fall and provides winter interest if left uncut. Tolerant of all soil types and thriving in clay soils, this versatile grass will find a happy home in your landscape this spring.
Prairie Winds® Totem Pole Switch Grass Care
Care and maintenance of your new grass could not get any simpler. Plant in full sun for sturdy strong stems. Water only in extreme dry periods once it is established and weekly until it is established. Growing best in clay soil, this perennial grass tolerates sandy poor soil as well as fertile soil. Prairie Winds Totem Pole does prefer an acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 6.5 for optimal performance. Deer and rabbits don’t tend to browse on it and it is drought tolerant as well as salt tolerant, giving Coastal gardeners and Northern gardeners a perennial grass that can take the salt along the coastal regions or from icy roads in northern regions. It will even handle brief flooding episodes without noticeable decline.
Deadheading is not needed and pruning should be reserved for late spring before the first new growth emerges. Cut clump down to a couple inches above soil level to give new growth less competition. Consider leaving seed heads for fall and winter interest and to allow songbirds to eat the seeds for valuable nutrients. Winter protection is not needed, but if concerned, add a good quality mulch to the root zone in harsh winter regions.
Prairie Winds® Totem Pole Switch Grass Spacing
Space your new grasses about 30 inches apart from other plants. This allows free air circulation and enhances the sway and movement in the wind, creating that attractive swishing noise that spawned the common name ‘Switch Grass’ for this perennial. Growing to about 72 inches tall and spreading out 30 inches, you will find this grass easy to incorporate into even the smaller garden spaces due to its small footprint. Whether using this for erosion control along your hillside, planting in a small garden for vertical interest, or massing out as a privacy screen along your driveway, you will appreciate Prairie Winds Totem Pole Switch Grass in your garden this spring!
Prairie Winds® Totem Pole Switch Grass Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9 |
| Plant Type: Perennial Grass |
| Sunlight Exposure: Full Sun |
| Mature Height: 6 Feet |
| Mature Width: 2.5 Feet |
| Plant Spacing: 30 Inches |
| Growth Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): Yellow |
| Flower Shade: Golden |
| Seasonal Interest: Late Summer |
| Foliage Type: Herbaceous |
| Foliage Color(s): Steel Blue |
| Resists: Deer |
| Tolerates: Drought, Salt |
| Features: Cut Flowers, Deadheading Not Necessary, Foliage Interest, Low Maintenance, Native to North America |
| Uses: Border Plant Container Cut Flower Dried Flower Landscape Mass Planting Specimen or Focal Point |
| Plant Brand: Proven Winners |
| Botanical/Scientific Name: Panicum virgatum 'Totem Pole' USPP 29,951, Can PBRAF |
- SKU:
- PANTP
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations